Rebecca Harris, aged 35, also chanted ‘Tommy Robinson’ and ‘EDL’ in racist attacks towards police
Rebecca Harris(Image: West Midlands Police)
An Aston Villa fan mum mooned a judge saying ‘kiss my a***’ as he jailed her for slashing a rival Birmingham City supporter.
Rebecca Harris had been drinking when she branded Michael Keeling a ‘Zulu’ and viciously attacked him at The Gables Hotel in Solihull.
On a separate occasion, the 35-year-old lashed out at police, issued vile racist slurs, and chanted ‘Tommy Robinson’ and ‘EDL’ as she was being arrested in connection with a separate allegation.
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Harris, who has been diagnosed with a personality disorder, quickly lost her temper as Recorder Paul Stagg passed sentence at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, August 4.
She burst out ‘bulls***, f*** off, chat s***’ before standing up and exposing her backside, adding: “Kiss my a***.”
Harris continued saying ‘kiss my white ass’ and repeated ‘suck your mum’ as she was led away by a dock officer.
Recorder Stagg, confirming what had occurred for the court recording, said: “The defendant has been abusive to the court.
“She turned around and bared her buttocks to the court.”
Harris was ultimately jailed for eight years and two months having been found guilty of wounding with intent.
She had admitted multiple offences of assaulting emergency workers and racially aggravated harassment.
The Gables Hotel in Solihull
On February 7, 2024, she had been staying at The Gables Hotel on Old Damson Lane, in Solihull which was being used as emergency accommodation by the council.
During the early hours of the morning Mr Keeling, who had had only just moved in and not met her previously, was woken by the sound of knocking at his door.
He went to investigate and was looking for the reception when he inadvertently knocked on Harris’s door.
She was drinking with another friend at the time and invited Mr Keeling in.
She gave him something to eat and initially the conversation was friendly.
Recorder Stagg said: “Things took a turn for the worse when Mr Keeling told you he was a supporter of Birmingham City FC. You are a supporter of their local rivals Aston Villa FC.
“There came a time when you told him that you thought his feet smelled and referred to him as a ‘tramp’.”
Harris retrieved a knife from the kitchen and told Mr Keeling ‘you Zulus think you are all that, I will chop you up’.
She then proceeded to slash at him causing a deep gash to his face, wounds to his hands and marks to his trousers.
Recorder Stagg said: “Zulus’ is clearly a reference to fans of Birmingham City FC who are often known by that nickname, the Zulu Warriors being a notorious hooligan ‘firm’ linked to that club.
“I am therefore sure that the immediate motivation for what followed was your hatred for fans of Birmingham City FC.”
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Police arrived and Harrison claimed she had acted in self-defence but a jury ultimately rejected her account.
Mr Keeling suffered scarring and described having sleepless nights as a result of the incident.
Harris went on to commit a spate of attacks against police officers on September 24 when they were called to an allegation she had threatened to kill someone, for which she was not ultimately charged.
She was handcuffed and placed in the back of a police car but before long she racially abused an Asian officer and then kicked out at another.
Harris proceeded to issue more vile racial insults to a mixed race officer who she also spat at.
After being taken to a police station she started chanting the name of far right activist ‘Tommy Robinson’ and the group he founded, ‘EDL’.
Rebecca Harris(Image: West Midlands Police)
Harris was taken to hospital on suspicion she had swallowed razor blades, when in fact she had put keys in her own mouth.
Whilst there she continued to spit at officers depite having been placed in a spit hood.
Later, when back in a cell, she kicked out at a detention officer.
Harris has 44 previous convictions for 93 offences, including once attacking a woman with a samurai sword in a row over text messages, the court was told.
Amir Riaz, defending, stated childhood trauma had caused her to have a negative attitude towards people in authority, adding she suffered from a personality disorder, anxiety and depression.
He told the court: “But for alcohol consumption it seems this offending would not have happened.
“The offence was not pre-planned or pre-meditated. The defendant invited the complainant (Mr Keeling) into her address.
“They sat down, she provided some food and drink but as things evolved there was a turn for the worse.”
The barrister confirmed Harris had initially declined to leave her cell at court to attend the sentence hearing, but had handed him an ‘eloquently written’ letter to be given to the judge.
Harris ultimately changed her mind and came up to the dock to learn her fate but only lasted a few minutes before she began shouting out abuse.
Recorder Stagg, continuing his sentencing remarks after she was ejected, concluded Harris had shown ‘no victim empathy’ but he acknowledged she had been ‘frequently attacked and abused’ throughout her life.
He said: “It is disturbing the motivation for violence was nothing more than a rivalry between two football clubs.”
The judge did express hope that Harris would receive ‘the therapy she desperately needs’.
Harris received two months in total for her attacks towards police officers which she will have to serve up to 40 per cent of in custody.
She will then commence her eight-year sentence for the wounding offence, which she will have to serve two thirds of before release.
She was also declared ‘dangerous’ and made the subject of an extended three-year licence period.